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H. HORN.

STYLUS GUIDING DEVICE. APPLICATION HLED NOV. 20. 91s

1,803,9GQ. Patented May 20, 1919.

5] vwe wtoz STYLUS-GUIDING DEVICE.

T0 (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY HORN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings,and State of New York, have invented a certa n new and usefulStylus-Guiding Device, of which the following is a specification.

It is well recognized that there is a great deal of breakage inphonograph records, owing to carelessness or inexperience in placing thestylus in tracking relation to the record, the breakage being due to thefact, mainly, that the reproducer and tone arm are allowed to drop on tothe edge of the record with such force that the recorf. is eitherseriously scratched or broken. In

either event, the loss is a very substantial 1 one, yet, so far asapplicant lmeans of the type herein under is aware, no consideration hasbeen devised to obviate the breakage or injury adverted to.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages specified and others,and provides in a simple, efficient and economical manner, a meanswherein it is practically impossible to injure or break a record.

Speaking generally, the invention, from a structural standpoint,embodies a member, preferably mounted on the topof the phonographcabinet, adapt-ed to cooperate with the stylus and record in such mannerthat when the stylus is placed thereon it may be moved laterally intotracking position on the record in such manner as to preclude all dangerof sc atching or breaking the record.

From a more specific standpoint, the invention embodies a stylussupporting member adapted to be screwed into or otherwise mounted on thetop of the phonograph cabinet, in such lateral and vertical proximitiesto the record or its support, that when the stylus is placed thereon itmay be moved toward the record, arm or otherwise, in such manner that itis brought into gentle engagement with the record and automaticallyassumes the proper tracking position.

Features of the invention other than those specified, will be apparentfrom the hereinafter detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, '1 have illustrated one practical form ofthe invention but the construction shown therein is to be understood asillustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

by taking hold of the tone Patented May 20, 1919.

' Application filed Ii'ovember 20, 1918. Serial No. 263,283.

Referring to the drawings,

tive. with the device of this invention mounted on the cabinet; and

Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary section of a phonograph, with the device ofthis invention shown in cooperative relation with the stylus andreproducer; and

"Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary perspective view of the device of thisinvention.

Referring to .the drawings, 1 is the top of a phonograph cabinet, 9. therecord holder, 3 the record, 4: the tone arm, 5 the reproducer, 6 thestylus and 7 the device of this invention, as a whole.

The particular form of the invention shown, embodies a screw, screwedinto the top of the phonograph, as shown at 8, and having a top 9,preferably composed of glass, porcelain or other suitable hard material.The top member 9 is preferably provided with a groove 10, and the sameis preferably inclined, as shown, so that the stylus will readily slidedown the inclined path thus formed. The stylus supporting member is sopositionel that the inner edge of the head 9 is substantially invertical alinement with the outer groove of the record, although theinner edge may be positioned intermediate the outer circumference of therecord and the groove, as, in either event, it will assume a properposition in the groove. lVith regard to its vertical position, the screwis so adjusted that the bottom well of the groove is so slightly abovethe record, as to be substantially flush therewith. Only sufficientspace need be left to permit of inserting a record thereunder, althougha fall of the stylus on to the record of a sixteenth of an inch, orslightly more, would not, ordinarily, injure the record. In practice thedevice, and particularly the incline or track 10, is usually made of acolor contra-sting with the color of the record whereby said device maybe more readily located when it is desired to move the stylus toinoperative position.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the invention will bereadily understood, but it may be briefly described as follows: A recordhaving been placed in position on the holder, all the operator need dois to swing the tone arm into such position that the stylus 6ispositioned within the groove 10, whereupon, a slight lateral movementcauses the stylus to gently engage the record and cause, it toautomatically assume its proper tracking positlon thereon.

It, will be understood that the invention may partake of various forms,both as to the construction of the top member 9 and as to the manner ofmounting the stylus support with reference to its cooperating parts,without departing from the scope of the invention, the scope of which iscommensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a phonograph, a stylus supporting device mounted in normally fixedposition adjacent the edge of a relatively rotatable record, andadaptedto partially overlie said record, whereby, When the stylus isposi tioned thereon, it may be moved therefrom into su'l'istantiallycorrect tracking on the record. 7

2. In a phonograph, a rotatable record, a stylus supporting deviceindependent of the record for support and mounted to normally remainstationary While the record rotates, said device being provided with aninclined guide-way in which the stylus is adapted to be supported whenoil the record,

position said guide-way overlying a portion of the record andterminating adjacent the outer sound groove thereof, whereby said stylusmay 'be moved down the guide-way into cor rect tracking positionon therecord.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' HARRY HORN.'

